Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
The French architects who cobbled this ship building together were missing a trick, given it houses rail and subway workers. They should’ve built a big caboose! Instead, it looks like a ship (with a helicopter on top) docked in Paris. Those three helicopter-like blades actually have street lights and solar panels inside, meaning it’s more…
Nate Silver, stats wiz and predictor-extraordinaire, has set his mathematical mind on something a little sexier than the electoral college: sex. His findings? If you want to do that (sex), go out on a Wednesday. Why? Data explains! Silver teamed up with sexual data treasure drove OK Cupid, and singled out Wednesday as your best…
If there’s anything that Anna Chapman is apparently worse at than being a Russian spy, it’s holding down a job. She’s now gone from bank IT, to cosmonaut suit design, to… get ready… venture capital editor. This just got personal. It’s one thing to spy on my country, Anna. I get it. Global intrigue. We…
Around three hours ago, Syria’s ISPs were taken down so protestors wouldn’t have a way to upload video of the uprising. It’s all kicking off in Hama today, with 27 protestors sadly killed in the clash with security. [Al Jazeera via USA Today]
ATTN ALL ROBOTS: You are supposed to help us. Clean our floors. Care for our elderly. Defuse our bombs. Not burn down our houses, as was the case for one Tennessee fugitive, whose mobile home was toasted during a standoff. https://gizmodo.com/roomba-770-it-might-be-time-to-sell-your-vacuum-grand-5805505 Sure, the guy’s a criminal, but it’s a little worrying that a robot meant…
Oh, to have the lightness and speed of an SSD, but with the capacity of a hard drive! OCZ, the mind-reader it is, has made a component that will offer up to 1TB in HDD space, and up to 120GB in SSD. They haven’t yet worked out if the PCI Express x4 card will have…
We all know the drill with airport security: Pockets empty, laptop out, shoes and dignity off. Degrading, but anything for safety, right? Next-gen Explosive Trace Detectors promise that we’ll at least get to keep our shoes on. An explosives trace-detection portal—more commonly known as a “puffer machine,” because puffees are blasted with multiple puffs of…
Next week Apple will unveil the next major version of Mac OS X, which may be the last version of their desktop operating system as we know it. Here is why. Mac OS X is a very mature operating system. It has a extremely solid base, with very robust core technologies, fast, reliable and with…
I have big dreams for the coming summer. And in one of those dreams, I envision rolling up to some densely-populated hotspot, tossing out a few beers, and grilling up food for the masses. Instant party. This Bar and Grill on wheels from Alpina, with its beer tap and optional grilling surface, will help make…
The magic that disappeared from our world centuries ago is back. It’s all around us, but we can’t see it. The only way to bring this magic into focus — the only way to fight for this power — is… [Kotaku]
Well, this is awful. An Indian Amish woman died while doing laundry the old fashioned way—over a flaming pot of boiling water. It appears the flames got out of control, consuming and killing her with burns. Well. Police say the accident occurred when the woman added more kerosene to the equation (don’t do this), which…
Every time you turn on a light, you’ll be reminded of those countless hours spent mashing buttons and dropping quarters into your favorite arcade cabinet. Maybe it was Street Fighter II, or possibly NBA Jam. Either way, it’s good. [Etsy via Wired]
The Unabomber auction has ended, and over $190,000 was raised for his victims. The hottest item was a collection of Kaczynski’s personal journals that went for $40,676, while his iconic hoodie and sunglasses sold for $20,025. https://gizmodo.com/unabombers-manifesto-sunglasses-on-auction-block-5801510
Apparently this papercraft Leica M3 actually works when loaded with film, and as designer Matthew Nicholson plans to upload a tutorial at some point, you can put that to the test. Just don’t take it swimming. [Matthew Nicholson via Photojojo]
So iCloud might be free for users, then cost $25/year after that. Sounds fair. But what about the music labels? Apple’s reportedly paying the four big labels between $25 – $50 million each, according to the New York Post. https://gizmodo.com/apples-icloud-to-launch-as-a-free-service-then-cost-25-5808045 Altogether, that figure could amount to up to $150 million, with The Post reporting that…
Just imagine the look of surprise on an al Qaeda member’s face when they thought they were loading a tutorial on how to “make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom” but actually got…a recipe for mojito cupcakes. Famed British intelligence agency MI6 hacked the first English-language Jihadist online magazine, Inspire, last year but…
Plastic wrap hangs on to everything it touches like grim death. Find out how it manages to glom on to nearly every surface in a kitchen. There is a debate about what is more the more responsible substance to use: cling wrap or aluminum foil. In this author’s opinion, the clear winner is aluminum foil.…
At the end of June, a bill will be floated at Capitol Hill, proposing Amazon start collecting sales tax from its customers. Meaning, in essence, that online shopping could become more expensive. There’s still a chance the Main Street Fairness Act bill might not go through, considering it’s been suggested many times in the past.…
Hey, look at that—Gingerbread is gaining in popularity after more phones are either shipping with it, or receiving the OTA update. From 3 per cent last month to 8.1 per cent now, a Cupcake is weeping somewhere. [Google]
Just looking at its name, you would never guess that The Main Street Fairness Act has to do with online commerce, but it does. Not only will it increase the cost of online shopping, it may change the way companies like Amazon do business. The Main Street Fairness Act is a bill being prepared by…